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Lady Marianne is very unhappy. She has been summoned home to her brother's new holding in Scotland from Normandy. Nicholas wants to marry her to Hamish Mac Glogan, an old man from a neighboring clan. Hamish is rich, and powerful, and Nicholas wants to gain a powerful ally. As Nicholas finishes telling her she is to be married, a party of Scots arrives. Adair Mac Taran is the heir to the clan leadership, as his father, Seamus Mac Taran, is Laird. They are the nearest neighbors to Nicholas and have much to lose if Nicholas succeeds in allying with Mac Glogan.
Marianne was raised in a convent in Normandy and always expected to marry a Norman nobleman. Now she is in Scotland, constantly cold and damp. She doesn't want to marry an old man, especially one as ugly as Hamish Mac Glogan. She fully plans to find a way out, and will do whatever it takes to persuade Nicholas not to go through with the marriage. She is independent and knows her worth. She plans to flee to the church, either a convent or monastery to escape after she realizes Nicholas will not relent.
Adair Mac Taran is a man on a mission. He has to rescue the lovely Lady Marianne from her unwanted marriage. He offers to help her escape several times, and each time Marianne refuses. He is sure that she needs his help, and climbs through her window one night, trying to get her to come away with him. Just as she refuses again, her brother breaks into her room and accuses her of being Adair's lover. Adair finds himself burdened with a resentful woman who has no appreciation of the danger he faced to save her. Long ago, a playmate of his was raped and murdered, and he blamed himself for her death. Never again will he allow a woman to be forced against her will into anything.
The relationship between Marianne and Adair is filled with twists and turns that leave them both reeling. Adair's impulsive behavior places his clan in danger from both Nicholas and Hamish Mac Glogan. And an unknown traitor lurks within the clan biding his time.
Margaret Moore brings Medieval Scotland to life in this engaging tale. She shows how a forced marriage can become a wonderfully loving relationship. Marianne is spirited, and believes in herself. She doesn't cow down to anyone. Adair is much more impulsive and emotion driven. Watching the two of them work out their differences is interesting and fun.
As a launch novel for a new line from HQN, The Bride of Lochbarr succeeds in its quest to draw loyal readers. I look forward to reading many more HQN novels.
Reviewed by Nancy Riggins-Hume
for The Road to Romance
July 16, 2004
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